by Anthony Fenech, USA TODAY Sports

by Anthony Fenech, USA TODAY Sports

DETROIT - Max Scherzer found out from pitching coach Jeff Jones, who pulled him aside last weekend in Miami and told him to prepare for Game 1.

The Detroit Tigers' right-hander will start the American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday in Oakland.

"I think the kind of year Scherzer's had," manager Jim Leyland said, "I'm sure somebody's going to find something wrong with this choice, but I think that's kind of hard to argue."

Justin Verlander will start Game 2, followed by Anibal Sanchez at Comerica Park in Game 3 and Doug Fister in Game 4, if necessary.

"I truly feel that I can start any one of my guys, and I would feel comfortable," Leyland said.

But the decision, he said, was not hard.

Scherzer is the AL Cy Young Award front-runner, leading the league with 21 wins and ranking in the top five in strikeouts (240) and ERA (2.90). He said he is excited for the opportunity.

"It's awesome," Scherzer said. "We're going up against a great team, and my job is to go out there and try and pick up the win for the first time."

But starting Game 1 does not necessarily mean Scherzer will get the call if the series extends to five games.

The way the ALDS schedule is set up, the Game 2 starter could pitch Game 5 on the normal four days' rest. But Leyland said not to read too much into that; he is planning on Scherzer pitching if it goes that far.

Leyland said that the team had been tossing around the rotation decision since before their American League Central-clinching win over Minnesota last week. The pitchers were notified in Miami.

"Jeff Jones felt that it was pretty important for them to know, so their routine so leading up to that, they could get their routine in place without any distractions," Leyland said.

Scherzer said he didn't care which assignment he got - "The only thing I care about is pitching well and winning" - and that Verlander, the Tigers' Game 1 anchor of the past, offered congratulations after the decision.

"It more so means we're just on a great team," he said. "That's what makes it fun. And hopefully, we can continue to pitch like that in this postseason, because we're going to need it."